Declining Sexual Satisfaction and Cognitive Health Linked
A new study from Penn State researchers suggests that low sexual satisfaction in middle age could serve as an early warning sign for future cognitive decline.
The study, which explored associations between erectile function, sexual satisfaction, and cognition in hundreds of men aged 56 to 68, discovered that declines in sexual satisfaction and erectile function were correlated with future memory loss.
Published in the journal Gerontologist, the study is the first to track sexual satisfaction, sexual health, and cognition longitudinally, pointing to a potential new risk factor for cognitive decline.
The research team examined physical changes, such as microvascular changes related to erectile function, and psychological changes, like lower sexual satisfaction, and how these changes relate to cognition.
They focused on middle age as a transition period when declines in erectile function, cognition, and sexual satisfaction begin to emerge.
Link Between Satisfaction and Health
Martin Sliwinski, a professor of human development and family studies at Penn State and a co-author on the study, explained that scientists are starting to understand the link between life satisfaction and cognitive performance.
It’s been found that low satisfaction is associated with higher risk for health issues like dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, and stress-related issues leading to cognitive decline.
The study suggested that improvements in sexual satisfaction may spark improvement in memory function, adding another element of health and general quality of life.
The Research and Findings
For the study, the researchers used survey data from 818 men participating in the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging.
They examined cognitive changes over a 12-year span from age 56 to 68, adjusting for participants’ cognitive ability in young adulthood.
Erectile function and sexual satisfaction were measured using the International Index of Erectile Function, a self-reported assessment for male sexual health.
The research found that decreases in erectile function and sexual satisfaction were both associated with memory decline, indicating a link between psychological and physical health.
After adjusting for demographic and health factors, the researchers found a clear connection between sexual lives and cognition.
Future Implications
Given the link between microvascular changes and changes in erectile function, Sliwinski suggested that future research should focus on how erectile function connects to other aspects of health.
He also advocated for assessing and monitoring erectile function as a vital sign of health to help identify those at risk of cognitive decline before their 70s.
Sliwinski emphasized that the focus should be on improving sexual satisfaction and overall well-being, not just treating symptoms such as erectile dysfunction (ED).
“We already have a pill for treating erectile dysfunction. What we don’t have is an effective treatment for memory loss,” Sliwinski said.
He noted that with the older adult population in the U.S. expected to double over the next 30 years, it is crucial to focus on such potential early indicators for cognitive decline.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and flavonoid-rich foods could help prevent dementia.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that cranberries could help boost memory, and these antioxidants could help reduce dementia risk.
The study was published in The Gerontologist.
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